Spiral milling machine



Au'g- 1936- E. G. ROEHM I 2,050,124

SPIRAL MILLING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 V O 117/ /5? Via -11: 112

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 4, 1936. E G ROEHM 2,050,124

SPIRAL MILLING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

1936. E. G. RCIJEHM 2,050,124

SPIRAL MILLING MACHINE Filed May 6, 19:55 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L'I'II'."

179:]? INVENTOR. [PM/Y/?0f/W ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED. STA ES,

SPIRAL MILLING MACHINE Erwin- G. Roehm, Norwood. Ohio, assignor to The Cincinnati Milling Machine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 19,911

18 Claims.

This invention relates to machine tools and,

more particularly to an improved spiral milling machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved spiral milling machine which is economical in cost and simple to adjust and operate.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved. pattern controlled spiral milling machine.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a machine for milling spiral grooves in cylindrical Work pieces which may be automatically controlled from a master having a straight edge arranged at an angle to a reference line which is parallel to the axis of the work and which angle is equal to the pitch angle of the groove being cut.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a pattern controlled machine for milling spiral grooves in cylindrical work pieces in which the work may be automatically indexed while under control of a tracer and master.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like or similar parts:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine tool embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the right hand of that figure.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view showing the transmission train for actuating the work table.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line d4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 'i-l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the control valve block mounted adjacent the front wall of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of the automatic cut-off valve for the fixture motor.

view on the line 6-6 of "to the driving shaft 22. The gears 2| are held Figure 11 is a detail sectional view on the line I IH of Figure 2. g

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view of the delay valve for the table motor.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view oi the hy 5 draulic control circuit. v

Figure '14 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the sine bar showing the graduations associated therewith.

The machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an 10 exemplary embodiment of the principles of this invention and comprises, in general, a bed or support member ill having guide ways ll formed thereon for receiving a reciprocable work support or table It; and a column I 3.uprising from 15 one side of the bed upon the top I4 of which is mounted a horizontal rail indicated generally by the reference numeral l5. In general, a work piece such as IE, or a plurality. ofsuch work pieces, is supported on the work table for rela- 20 whereby four work pieces may be simultaneously 30 operated upon; Each of the individual work supporting spindles is the same and each of the tool supporting spindles is the same, and therefore only one will be described in connection with each.

journaled in a head l9 which supports the spindle at a desired angle with respect to the axis of the work so that the tool or cutter will lie in a plane corresponding to the plane representing the pitch angle of the groove being cut. The spindle it is provided with a spiral gear 20 on the upper end thereof, as shown in Figure 2, and this gear is driven by a second spiral gear 2| keyed against bodily movement with respect to the spiral gears 20 but the driving shaft 22 is splined in the gears 26 whereby the head l9 may be moved relative to the shaft 22, while still maintaining a. driving action .between the shaft and spindle. The shaft 22 has a pulley 23 secured to the end thereof which is connected by a belt 24 to the driving pulley 25 secured to the end of the armature shaft of motor 26. The motor pulleys and shaft 22 are supported on the horizontal rail ,35 The tool H is keyed to a spindle l8 which is l5. By the means thus described the cutter spindles may be power rotated and may also be laterally adjusted while maintaining the driving connection. Each spindle may be supported in a quill 21 for axial adjustment by' means of conventional quill adjusting mechanisms terminating in the square ended shaft 28 to which a suitable wrench may be applied.

The object of shifting the head I9 is to move the cutters to and from a cutting position, and in the present instance they are moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, to place them in a cutting position, and to the left to retract them. This movement is effected by a screw 29 and a nut 30, the latter being fixed against rotation in the slide IS. The screw is journaled in the bracket 3i against axial movement and has an integral pinion 32 meshing with a rack 33 which is connected to a piston 34 contained in a cylinder 35, whereby reciprocation of the piston will effect advance and retraction of the slide i9. To insure that the cutters are accurately positioned a positive stopis provided in the form of a threaded rod 36 which is fixed with the slide i9 for relative movement through a fixed lug 31. Adjustable lock nuts 38 and 39 are threaded on the rod for engaging the positive stop to limit the movement of the slide in each direction. The movement of the slide i9 or, in other words, the addition of fluid pressure to opposite ends of the cylinder is automatically controlled, and in accordance with the direction of movement of the work support.

The work support ii is power traversed by an individual prime mover in the form of a rotary fluid operable motor 40 which is attached to the end of the machine tool bed, as shown in Figure 2, and connected by suitable transmission means more particularly shown in Figure 3 with the table lead screw 4!. This transmission comprises. a shaft 42 which is directly driven by the motor 40 and has a gear 43 fixed therewith in mesh with a gear 44 mounted for rotation on the shaft 45. The gear 44 is connected by backlash eliminating mechanism for effecting movement of the table and this mechanism comprises a pair of spiral gears 46 and 41 which are integral with the gear 44 on a sleeve 48, which sleeve is longitudinally movable with respect to the shaft 45.

These spiral gearshave teeth at different spiral angles and intermesh with gears 49 and 56 respectively mounted co-axially of the lead screw 4i. This backlash eliminating mechanism is similar to that described in a co-pending application, Serial Number 694,423, filed October 20, 1933, whereby further description thereof is not believed to be necessary. Suflice it to say that the gears 49 and 50 are integral with nuts 5i and 52 which interengage with the screw and may be relatively rotated through the differential action effected by longitudinal movement of the sleeve 48 to eliminate backlash between the drive shaft 42 and the screw 4|. This longitudinal movement is effected by a piston 53 contained in a cylinder 54 and connected by a piston rod 55 which extends through the center of shaft 45 and is connected by a cross pin 55 to the sleeve 48. The fluid pressure is admitted to one end of the cylinder when the table is traveling in one direction whereby a backlash eliminating effect is produced for that direction of movement only and the pressure-must be reversed when the direction of movement is changed. An elongated slot 51 is formed in the shaft to permit relative movement of the cross pin 58.

Each work piece I6 is supported in a chuck 58 attached to the end of a shaft 59 and the shaft is rotated by a worm gear 60, these worm gears being arranged as more particularly shown in Figure 4. Parallel shafts 6i and 52 extend crosswise of the fixture 63 and the shaft 6! carries a series of worms 54 which intermesh with the respective worm gears 66 on the top side thereof and the shaft 62 carries a series of worms 55 which mesh with the worm gears 59 on the bottom thereof. These shafts are rotated in opposite directions because they are on opposite sides of the axis of the worm gears and are provided for the purpose of eliminating backlash from the work driving mechanism.

The gear 6! has a spur gear 66 which is connected by an idler 6! to a drive gear 68 mounted on shaft 69.

The shaft 62 has a spur gear in which meshes with a second drive gear 7| mounted on the shaft 69. The shaft 69 is rotated by a fluid operable motor 12 mounted on the end of the fixture 53, as more particularly shown in Figure 1, and the drive shaft of the rotary motor has a worm i2 meshing with a worm gear 13, which has integral therewith a spur gear 15 meshing with gear 16, mounted for free rotation on the shaft 69. The gear 16 is connected by a shiftable clutch member I? to the shaft 69 for rotation of the work fixtures. The clutch serves the purpose of disconnecting the work spindles from the hydraulic motor, whereby the motor may be rotated during reciprocatory movement of the work table without rotating the work, and suitable mechanism is provided for automatically disengaging this clutch during the return relative movement between the work and cutter whereby the indexing is effected by letting the work drop behind instead of being advanced ahead of its previous position. When the clutch is disengaged, a cone surface 18 engages a, conical-shaped concave surface 19 fixed with the fixture B3 to hold the work against inadvertent rotation.

The fixture 53 has a dovetail guideway 83 formed on the bottom thereof for interengagement with a complementary guide 8| formed on the upper side of the work table i2 and an adjusting screw 82 is provided for moving the fixture whereby the same may be suitably positioned in accordance with the length of the work pieces to be machined.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a first power operable motor 40 is provided for reciprocating the work table, and a second power operable motor for rotating the work piece and a control circuit is provided for determining proportionate operation of these motors simultaneously to produce a relative spiral movement between the cutter and work which will now be described.

As shown in Figure 13, the motor 12 which rotates the work is connected by a pair of channels 83 and B4 to ports 85 and 86 respectively of a tracer controlled valve 81. The table motor 40 is also connected by channels 81' and 88 to ports 89 and 90 of a reversing valve 9|. The reversing valve also has a pair of exhaust ports 92 and 93 which are connected to a common return line 34. A pressure port 55 in this valve is adapted port is connected to-port 90 and the port 09 is connected to the port 92. Thus, by shifting the valve the direction of rotation of the table motor 40 may be reversed.

The pressure port 95 is connected by the branched channel 99 to ports I and IOI of the tracer control valve 81.

Pressure is supplied to the tracer controlled valve by a pump I02 which has an intake port I03 for receiving fluid from a reservoir I04 and delivering the same under pressure 'to channel I05, terminating in the port I06 of the throttle valve I01. I00 in which is a conventional relief valve I09 whereby oil may return to reservoir when excessive pressures exist in the line I05. The throttle valve I01 has an exhaust port H0 and a delivery port III, the latter-named port being connected to channel H2 which has three branches-M3, IE4 and H5, terminating in ports H0, H1 and H0 respectively in the tracer valve 81 The throttle valve plunger II9 has a tapered spool I 20 movable with respect to port I by a manually operable handle I which is rotatably mounted on a shaft I2'I for reciprocating the valve plunger I i 9. An arched quadrant I22 and spring pressed pawl I23 serve to hold the plunger in various adjustedpositions. Thus, by moving the throttle valve, the rate of delivery from port I06 to port III may be determined and thereby the rate of operation of the machine as a whole thus set.

The port H6 is normally closed by a spool I24, but when shifted laterally in either direction from this position it will alternately connect port II 6 with channels 83 or 04 to cause rotation of motor 12 in either direction. The tracer valve 01 also has exhaust ports I25 and I26 which are alternately connectible with ports 85 and 86 respectively with the result that when one of ,these lastnamed ports is connected to pressure the other is connected to an exhaust port.

The spool I24 is formed on the plunger I21, which also has tapered spools I28 and I29 formed thereon and movable with respect to ports H1 and I00, and when the plunger is in the position shown in Figure 13 both of ports H1 and I00 will be halfway open. In other words, in

- this position of the plunger I21 a maximum flow of oil can occur from port II! to port I00 because if the plunger is shifted to either side of this position one or the other of the ports will be further closed to retard the flow.

The plunger I21 has an end I30 in engagement with a tracer arm adapted to interengage the edge I3I of a sinebar I32. The sine bar is pivotally mounted at its center on a pin I33 for angular adjustment with respect to the horizontal and a pair of T bolts I34 and I35 in opposite ends of the sine bar, and movable in T slots I36 and I31, are utilized for clamping the sine bar in various angular positions. The angularity of the sine bar in cooperation with the tracer determines the rate of rotation of the work for a'given length of axial movement thereof and'in' this manner determines the pitch angle of the spiral groove being cut. v

From this it will be seen that the sine bar must necessarily move with the table and to this end the sine bar is supported on a slide I 38 movable in guideways I39 formed in an apron I40 depending from the side of the work table I2, as more particularly shown inFigures 1 and 2. a

This slide may have graduations I38 thereon which cooperate with a reference" mark I39 on The channel I05 has a branch line the sine bar for indicating directly the necessary setting of the bar to produce a given spiral angle, as more particularly shown in Figure 14.

It is also necessary that the sine bar move in co-ordinated relation with the rotation of the work, and therefore the slide I38 has a nut I4I threaded on a screw I42 which depends from a bracket I43 carried by the apron, the screw being held in the bracket against axial movement. The upper end of the screw is provided with a bevel gear I 44 which intermeshes with a bevelgear I45 fixed in the bracket I43 and having a spline connection with shaft 9 46. This spline connection is necessary if the fixture 53 is to be adjusted relative to the table I2. The shaft I46 extends into the housing 63 where it is provided with a bevel gear I41, Figure 4, intermeshing with bevel gear I40 keyed to the end of the shaft 14 which is rotated from the hydraulic motor 12 through the worm 12' and the worm gear 13. From this, it will be seen that whenever the hy draulic motor 12 is rotated that the sine bar slide I38 will accordingly be moved and independently of the position of the clutch member 11.

The tracer control valve 81 is vertically supported in the valve box I49 attached to the front wall I50 of the machine and a bell crank l5I is pivotally mounted on a pin I52 in this box and has one arm I53 which is adapted to engage the sine bar I32 and a second arm I 54 which is adapted to engage the end of the plunger 830. From this it will be seen that as the sine bar is bodily moved in two directions in correspondence to the axial and rotative movement of the work, it acts upon the tracer plunger to maintain the rates of these movements in predetermined proportion to one another whereby a spiral groove of predetermined angle will be cut in the work.

Operation of the machine Figure 1 and in this position, which may be termed the loading position, the finished work pieces are replaced by unfinished blanks. The shanks of the blanks are inserted and secured in the various chucks 58 and if the grooves have been preformed in any manner, suitable marking means may be provided to insure that all the blanks are rotatably positioned alike.

In this machine the grooves in the work are progressively cut from the shank end toward thetip and this means that the table I2 must be moved to its extreme left position in order to position the cutters adjacent the shank end of the work blanks; after which the cutters are sunk to depth and the work gradually fed toward the right.

The machine is started by the operator moving the throttle control lever I20 in such a direction as to uncover port I 05 in valve I01 so that the fluid will flow to ports H6, H1 and H8 of the tracer control valve 81. It will be noted from Figure 1 that the sine bar is far removed from the tracer control mechanism when the machine is started and therefore the spring I55 may shift the tracer valve plunger I21 to the extreme right as viewed in Figure 13 with the result that port H6 is connected to port 85 and the pressure fluid will flow to the work rotating motor 12, but at this time the channel 04, which is acting as a return channel, is blocked on account of an interlock valve I56 having a plunger I51 which is shifted to a valve closing position.

This valve is more particularly shown in Figure 10 and has a pair of ports I58 and I59, one port being connected to the portion 84A and the other port being connected to the portion 843 of channel 84. A spring I60 acts normally to position the plunger I51 so that the cannelure I8I in the plunger will interconnect these ports. The cam plate I62 carried by the table holds this plunger in a depressed position during the first half of the advancing movement of the slide I2 so as to prevent the motor 12 from rotation when the tracer is not under control of the sine bar.

The spool I29 on the tracer plunger also closes port I so that no fluid will flow thereto from the open pressure port H1, but a by-pass cannelure I83 in the plunger 52'? is in a position to interconnect pressure port ill! with port it)! so that pressure fluid will flow through line port 85. cannelure 91 of the reversing valve 9i, port 09 and channel all to the table motor Q0. This pressure fluid will also flow through a branch 84 to port I65 of the fluid operable motor iSG which comprises the previously mentioned piston and cylinder 34 and 85 respectively, the piston rod of which, as shown in Figure 2, has rack teeth 33 formed thereon for rotating the screw 29 through pinion 32. The cutter slide I9 has remained in a cutting position during the previous return movement to loading position and the cutters are now moved to a non-cutting position at the initiation of movement of the slide I2 toward the right.

The movement of the slide I8 to a non-cutting position closes the delay valve I81 through the valve means. This valve is shown in detail in Figure 12 and comprises a plunger I68 to the end of which is attached a shifter arm His adapted to be alternately engaged by dogs I10 and HI attached to a rod I12 projecting from the end of the slide I9. As the rod I12 moves to the left, as viewed in Figure 12, the plunger IE8 is shifted in such a direction that the'ports I13 and I14 are disconnected, or in other words, the valve is closed. This means that the fluid returning from the motor 40 through channel 88 cannot escape through the branch line I15 which has the delay valve serially connected therein, but must force itself past the check valve I16. The purpose of this is that when the channel 88 is connected to pressure during opposite movement of the slide I2 that the fluid will not pass to the motor until the fluid passing through the branch line I11 has shifted the piston 34 in such a direction to move the cutters to a cutting position.

The net result of starting the machine is that only the table motor 80 is rotated which, through the transmission train in Figure 3, shifts the table I2 toward the right. When the end of the work has about reached the position indicated by the dash and dot outline H8, Figure 1, the arm I53 of the tracer lever I5I, Figure 2, contacts the sine bar I3I thereby shifting the tracer control valve plunger I21 to the position shown in Figure 13. At the same time the cam I82 passes off of plunger I51 so that the spring I" now opens valve I58. In this position of the valve plunger I21 port H8 is disconnected from port III but port H1 is connected to port I" so that fluid will still flow to the table motor.

During the remainder of the leftward movement of the table the two motors l0 and 12 are under control of the tracer.

Shortly after the tracer has contacted the sine bar and the valve I81 has opened, a dog moved out of the path of plunger I80. The purpose of this dog is to limit the return movement of the work during the cutting operation and after the necessary number of flutes have been cut in the work, the dog H9 is manually lifted to permit the slide to return all the way toward the right to a loading position.

When the slide I2 has reached an extreme left position a second reversing dog i133 attached to the side of the table depresses plunger I00, shown in Figures 8 and 9, which through the medium of rack teeth 85 formed in the side thereof rotates a. pinion 9G6 integral with shaft I81 which has a ball-ended lever arm 98 engaging a slot I8l cut from the side of the reversing valve plunger, as more particularly shown in Figure 8. This shifts the reversing valve toward the right from its position shown in Figure 8 or toward the left as viewed in Figure 13. A detent plate I90, having a pair of notches engageable by the spring pressed detent IQI, serves to hold the Valve in eitherone of its two positions.

Depression of plunger I84 also operates through the pinion I86 to elevate the plunger I80 and position the same for engagement by the dog I19.

The shifting of the reverse valve connects the pressure port 95 with port 90 and connects port 89 to the return line 84. Fluid will now flow in line 88 and through branch I11 to cause downward movement of the piston 34 and thereby sinking the cutters to proper depth in the work, which depth will be determined by the position of the stop 38. Completion of this movement will open the delay valve I51 and the fluid will now flow through the branch I15 to motor 40 causing reverse rotation thereof. The tracer will be in contact with the sine bar and the sine bar will thus control the relative rates of rotation of motors 40 and 12 to cause formation of the spiral groove in the work pieces.

' After the first groove is cut in the work the dog 119 will, through plunger I80, shift the reverse valve again to the position shown in Figure 13, which will operate to retract the cutters and effect reverse movement of the table. It is necessary during this reverse movement to effact an indexing of the work which is accom-- plished in the following manner. The gear 10, previously described in connection with Figure 6, and which, as mentioned therein, is permanently connected with the motor 12, is operatively connected as shown in Figure 5 through an idler gear 182 with gear l93. This last mentioned gear is keyed to the end of shaft i914, more particularly shown in Figure 6, which carries a worm I95 meshing with a worm wheel I88, the worm wheel having integral therewith a dog wheel I91.

The clutch member 11 is shifted by a fork I81 fixed on the rotatable shaft I88. This shaft, as shown in Figure 11, has a bifurcated lever secured thereto which is operatively connected through a pin 200 to a bell crank 20L This bell crank has a portion 202 adapted to be engaged bya dog 203 which is fixed to the side of the bed. This dog is pivotally mounted on a pin 20 and a spring pressed plunger 205 serves: to hold the dog in an operative position. but

still permits the lever 202 to pass over the same when the table is moving toward the right on a cutting stroke. When the table reverses and starts to return, the dog 203 rotates the. bell crank against the resistance of a fixed spring 206 and thereby through lever Hi9 rotates the shaft I98 in a clockwise direction and shifts the clutch 11 in such a direction that the drive is disconnected from the work spindles and the brake is applied to hold the work spindles against inadvertent creepage. The gear 16, however, continues to rotate, thereby continuing the movement of the dog wheel I91, which has a dog 206' attached thereto which is more particularly shown in Figure '7. When the shaft I98 is rotated in a direction to apply the brake it is held in this position by a spring pressed pawl 201 which engages 2. lug 20d projecting from the side of the shaft.

Thus, even although the bell crank 202 has passed beyond the dog 203 as shown in Figure 11, the clutch is stillheld in a disengaged position. The dog 206 serves the purpose of engaging the end of pawl 201 and rotating the same in a direction to remove the same from the path of lug 208 so that the spring 206 can rotate the shaft 593 in a counterclockwise direction and effect re-engagement of the clutch. The lever 209 of dog 206 is pivotally mounted so that it may pass by the end of lever 20". in an opposite direction without trouble.

Since the dog 206 is adjustable, it is possible to trip the pawl 201 at any predetermined time whereby the work may be indexed 180 for cutting two spiral grooves, or 120 for cutting three spiral grooves, or at other suitable angles if a greater number of grooves are to be cut.

During the return movement of the table, after cutting the final groove in the work, the operator manually lifts the dog H9 whereby the table [2 will continue its travel until the other reversing dog i8| depresses the trip plunger I80, at which time the table l2 will then be in a loading position and the operator can stop the machine by closing the throttle valve I01.

It will be noted from Figure 13 that the return line 94 has a relief valve 2l0 in series with it, whereby a predetermined back pressure is maintained throughout the system.

Attention is invited to the fact that the backlash eliminator cylinder 54 is supplied with pressure from the main pump I02 through a throttle valve 2l2 which controls the pressure in the cylinder. To this end, the trottle valve has a port 2l3 which is connected by branch 2 to the output line I05 of the pump.

A reciprocable plunger 2l5, having a tapered spool 2I6, is constantly urged by a spring 2H in a direction whereby the spool will close port 2I3. This movement is limited, however, by an adjustable screw 2l8. The valve has a port 2| 9 which is connected by channel 220 to the pressure port 22| of a reversing valve 222. The upper and lower end of the valve housing 2l2 may be connected to an exhaust channel 223'to drain on any leakage occurring in the valve.

The port 22l is alternately connected by cannelures 224 and 225 in plunger 226 to ports 22'! and 228 respectively which are connected by channels 229 and 230 to opposite ends of cylinders 54.

In order that the-pressure in cylinder 5| may be properly controlled by the throttle valve there must be a continuous flow and therefore a bleeder coil 23! is connected to channel 220 for. permitting a small continuous flow into the return channel 232.

The plunger 226 is automatically positioned in accordance with the direction of rotation of the rotary motor 50 and this is accomplished by connecting opposite ends of the valve housing 222 by channels 233 and 230 to the supply lines 81 and 88 of motor 40. From this it will be seen that when the pressure in one of these channels is higher than the other, which must necessarily happen if the motor 00 is to operate, the valve plunger 226 will accordingly be shifted to apply pressure in the proper direction on the backlash eliminator piston 53.

There has thus been provided a tracer controlled spiral milling machine, utilizing a simplified hydraulic control circuit which is adjustable for obtaining variable leads on spirally grooved parts without the necessity of utilizing change gears.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spiral milling machine having a tool supporting spindle and a work supporting spindle,

the combination of fluid operable means for effecting axial movement of one of said spindles relative to the other, additional fluid operable means for rotating the work supporting spindle, and pattern controlled means for governing the ratio of the rate of operation of said fluid operablemeans whereby a'spiral groove will be formed in the work having a predetermined pitch, said pattern controlled means including a relatively movable sine bar and tracer, the movable member of which is coupled for actuation by one of said fluid operable means.

2. In a machine tool having a rotatable cutter and a slide mounted for reciprocation relative to said cutter, the combination of a rotatable work support mounted on said slide, a fluid operable motor for rotating said work support, a sine bar carried by the slide, and a tracer mounted on a fixed support and contactible with the sine bar for controlling the rate of rotation of said motor during reciprocation of the slide.

3. In a machine tool'having a rotatable cutter and a slide movable relative to said cutter, the combination of means for supporting a work piece on said slide for rotary movement and for bodily translation past the cutter, independent power operable means for effecting each of said movements, an auxiliary slide guided for movement on said first-named slide, means coupling said auxiliary slide for actuation by one of said power operable means whereby the ultimate direction of movement of the axial slide is a resultant of the axial and rotative movements of the work, and a device controlled by said axial slide for governing both of said power operable means. i

4. In a machine tool having a rotatable cutter and a slide movable relative thereto, the combination of means for effecting said movement including a relatively movable screw and nut pair, one of which is connected to the slide, a fluid operable motor for actuating the rotatable member of said pair, a pair of fluid delivery channels connected to said motor, means for alternately connecting said channels to a source of pressure to cause reversible operation of the motor, a fluid operable backlash eliminator associated with said screw and nut including a. piston which is movable in one direction toeliminate backlash during one direction of movement of the slide, and oppositely movable for eliminating backlash during opposite movement of the slide, and shiftable means responsive to the pressure in said channels for alternately connecting the source of pressure to opposite ends of said piston, whereby the backlash eliminator will be reversed upon reversal in the direction of the rotation of said motor.

5. In a spiral milling machine having a rotatable cutter and a reciprocable slide; a rotatable work support mounted on said slide, a fluid operable motor for rotating said support, a clutch for connecting the motor with the support, additional power operable means for moving said slide whereby the work may be rotated and simultaneously moved relative to the cutter in one direction to form a first spiral groove in the work piece, means to reverse the direction of said power operable means to return said work to a starting position, and means for disconnecting said clutch during said return movement where by the work will. be indexed relative to cutter.

5. In a spiral milling machine having a rotatable cutter and a reciprocabie slide; a rotatable work support mounted on said slide, a fluid op erable motor for rotating said support, a clutch for connecting the motor with the support, additional power operable means for moving said slide whereby the work may be rotated and simultaneously moved relative to the cutter in one direction to form a first spiral groove in the work piece, means to reverse the direction of said power operable means to return said work to a starting position, means for disconnecting said clutch during said return movement whereby the work will be indexed relative to the cutter, and a brake simultaneously operable with said clutch to hold the work against inadvertent rotation.

7. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a work support and a tool support, means for rotatably supporting a blank on the work support, power operable means for effecting a relative shifting movement between the work sup port and tool support to position the cutter in the path of the work, a second power operable means for effecting a relative feeding movement between the work support and slide, a third power operable means for eflecting rotation of the work, tracer controlled means for determining the rate or operation of said second and third-named power operable means, a reversing mechanism between said tracer control means and said second-named power operable means, and means controlled by said reversing mechanism to cause operation of said first-named power operable means.

8. In a spiral milling machine the combination of a first fluid operable support having a plurality of cutters journaled therein, means for rotating said cutters, a table, means carried by the table for supporting a plurality of blanks, a first fluid operable motor for moving said slide and thereby the blanks bodily past said cutters; a second fluid operable motor operatively connected for rotating said blanks during slide movement; pattern controlled means for governing operation or said motors including a tracer controlled valve, channels extending from said valve to the respective motors, means'to supply fluid pressure to said valve, a reversing valve interposed between the tracer control valve and one or said motors for changing the direction of rotation thereof, and means operable by the reversing valve upon movement to change said direction to cause operation of said first-named fluid operable support and thereby shitting of the cutters relative to the path of movement 0! said work blanks.

9. In a. spiral milling machine the combination of a first fluid operable sopport having a plurality of cutters journaled therein, means for rotating said cutters, a table, means carried by the table for supporting a plurality of blanks, a first fluid operable motor for moving said slide and thereby the blanks bodily past said cutters; a second fluid operable motor operatively connected for rotating said blanks during slide movement; pattern controlled means for governing operation of said motors including a tracer controlled valve, channels extending from.said valve to the respective motors, means to supply fluid pressure to said valve, a reversing valve interposed between the tracer control valve and one of said motors for changing the direction of rotation thereof, means operable by the eversing elve upon movement to change said direction cause operation of said firstniamed fluid op rtble support thereby shifting of the cutte tive to the of movement of said work b valve intermediate said rev" completed its shifting movement.

10. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a relatively movable work support and cutter support; a pattern and tracer, one of which is carried by said moving support, power operable means governed by thetracer for controlling the rate of said relative movement, means for reversing the direction of said relative movement, and additional power operable means controlled by said reversing mechanism for efiecting a shifting movement between the cutter support and the work support in a direction angular to the direction of said relative movement.

11. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a work support and a tool support, the combination of means to support a pattern on the work support for relative movement with respect thereto, a tracer engageable with said pattern, trip operable means for. limiting the length of said reciprocating movement, said slide also being movable to a work loading position in which the tracer will be out or contact with the pattern, and means to render the tracer control mechanism ineffective during movement to and from said work loading position.

12. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a tool support and a work support the combination of means for rotatably supporting a work piece on the work support, a first fluid operable motor for reciprocating the work support, a second fluid operable motor for rotating the work, a pattern movable by said second fluid operable motor relative to the work support, a

tracer engageable with said pattern, a tracer control valve Ior controlling the rate of actuation of said motors, said slide being movable to a and work loading position in which the tracer is out bination of a cutter supporting means. a work table, a rotatable work supporting means carried by the table, a pair or fluid operable motors for reciprocating said table and rotating said work respectively, a sine bar mounted for reciprocation relative to the work support and coupled for actuation by one or said motors, a 16 tracer contactible with said sine bar for governing the rate of rotation of said motors, and thereby the pitch angle oi said spiral grooves, and means to adjust the angularity of said sine bar to vary the pitch angle of the grooves.

14. In a pattern controlled machine tool for milling spiral grooves in drill blanks, the combination of a cutter supporting means, a work table, a rotatable work supporting means carried .by the table, a pair of fluid operable motors for reciprocating said table and rotating said work respectively, a sine bar mounted for reciprocation relative to the work support and coupled for actuation by one of said motors, a tracer contactible with said sine bar for governing the rate of rotation of said motors, and thereby the pitch angle of said spiral grooves,-means to adjust the angularity 01 said sine bar to vary the pitch angle of the, grooves, a motion interrupting clutch intermediate one of said motors and the rotatable work supporting means, and means operable by the table during return movement thereof to disconnect said clutch whereby the work will be indexed relative to the cutting means.

15. In a pattern controlled machine tool for milling spiral grooves in drill blanks, the combination of a cutter supporting means, a work table, a rotatable work supporting means carried by the table, a pair of fluid operable motors for reciprocating said table and rotating said work respectively, a sine bar mounted for reciprocation relative to the work support and coupled for actuation by one of said motors, a tracer contactible with said sine bar for governing the rate of rotation of said motors, and thereby the pitch angle of said spiral grooves. means to adjust the angularity or said sine bar to vary the pitch angle of the grooves, a motion interrupting clutch intermediate one of said motors and the rotatable work supporting means, means operable by the table during return movement thereof to disconnect said clutch whereby the work will be indexed relative to the'cutting means, and adjustable stop means continuously operated by the work motor for engagin i l h n h y determining the amount of said indexing movement.

16. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a cutter support and a work table, the combination of means for rotatably supporting a work piece on the table, a first mechanical train for effecting reciprocation oi the table, a second mechanical train for eirectlng rotation of the work, a pair of lrvdraulic motors for actuating the individual trains, a fluid operable backlash eliminator in one of said trains, tracer controlled means operatively coupled for controlling the rate of actuation of said motors, a first and second pair of channels connecting said motors with said valve, and means connecting the backlash eliminator for directional operation to the painot" channels leading to the motor which operates the train containing said backlash eliminator.

l7. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a tool support and a work support, a rotatable work holder carried by the work support, a iirst fiuid operable motor for reciprocating the work support, a second fiuid operable motor for rotating the work holder, a tracer controlled valve, a first pair of channels extending from the valve to the first motor, a second pair 0! channels extending from the valve to the second motor, a source oi fluid pressure connected to said valve, a sine bar carried by the work support and coupled i'or actuation by one of said motors. a tracer engageable with said sine bar during engagement of the cutters with the work, a stop valve in one of the channels leading to the second-named motor, and a cam carried by the table for shitting said valve to close the channel, whereby upon movement of the work slide to a position disconnecting the tracer from the sine bar said second-named motor will be stopped.

1a. In a pattern controlled machine tool having a tool support and a work support, a rotatable. work holder carried by the work support, a first fluid operable motor for reciprocating the work support, a second fluid operable motor for rotating the work holder, a tracer controlled valve, a 35 motor, a cam carried by the table for shifting 45 said valve to close the channel, whereby upon movement of the work slide to a position disconnecting the tracer irom the sine bar second-named motor will be stopped, and a bypass in said tracer controlled valve to permit operation of the first-named motor whereby the slide may be moved to and from a working podtion.

ERWIN G. ROE-HM. 

